The cost of living and financial support for disabled people
10 March 2023
Petitions Committee schedules a debate on petitions about the cost of living and financial support for disabled people and launch a survey to inform the debate
- Watch the debate (from 4.30pm, Monday 22 May)
- Read the debate transcript (available shortly after the conclusion of the debate).
- Follow the Committee on Twitter and join the discussion using #PetitionsDebate
Marsha De Cordova MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. MPs from all parties can take part, and the Government will send a minister to respond.
Share your views
To inform the debate, the Petitions Committee would like to hear from you about your experiences of and views on the cost of living and financial support for disabled people.
Share your views with by completing our survey, by 31 March:
- Survey without British Sign Language
- Survey with British Sign Language translation
- Survey in Easy Read format
A summary of responses will be published on the Parliament website. It will also be shared with MPs and may be referred to in the debate or within other parliamentary documents. Please don't share anything that may identify you.
Petitions call for additional financial support for disabled people
The first petition, “Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment”, which has almost 25,000 signatures states:
“Disabled people should be included alongside carers in the £650 one off payment as part of the Cost of Living support package. We have larger utilities bills and food costs when compared to non-disabled people. We rely on these utilities and food to stay alive.”
In its response, provided 11 October 2022, the Government said: “6 million people in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a £150 payment in September. If they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, they will also receive the £650 payment.”
The second petition, “Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition”, which has over 16,000 signatures states:
“The Government needs to provide a grant, so that people with a disability or serious medical condition can afford to run the equipment, or heating, they need to stay alive. It is not right that people living with conditions that require energy, should be punished for it, and sometimes face unmanageable debts with energy companies.”
In its response, provided on 14 June 2022, the Government said: “The Government will provide approximately six million people across the UK, who receive certain disability benefits, with a one-off payment of £150 in September 2022.”
What are petition debates?
Petition debates are 'general' debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on financial support for disabled people at the end of the debate.
Further information
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